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Dal joins Canada's universities in expressing concern and offering support following U.S. travel restrictions

Matt Reeder
- January 30, 2017

Dal's Henry Hicks Building. (File photo: Bruce Bottomley)

Update: February 14, 2017:

The US travel ban barring citizens from Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen from entering the United States continues to be suspended.

On Thursday, February 9, 2017, judges from the San Francisco-based 9th Circuit Court of Appeals declined to block the lower-court ruling that suspended the US travel ban. This decision means that Dalhousie students, faculty, visitors, and staff who are permanent residents, temporary residents, dual citizens from the affected seven countries can continue to be eligible to enter the US. Travellers will be subject to the standard processing and immigration requirements that existed prior to the ban.

Despite the suspension, Dalhousie remains dedicated to providing you with ongoing support. If you have any questions or concerns, you can contact the help line (902-494-1566) or email (UStravelbanhelp@dal.ca).

Original story below

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Dalhousie University has joined other universities across North America in expressing concerns about a new executive order in the United States preventing individuals from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the country for 90 days. The executive order was signed into action by U.S. President Donald Trump Friday evening.

“The new order is having an impact on Canadian campuses and communities that is real, immediate and profound,” the group said in the statement.

Contacts for support

In a memo to the Dalhousie community Monday afternoon, Dal President Richard Florizone and Provost Carolyn Watters echoed the call to end the travel ban. Dalhousie has also set up a help line (902-494-1566) and email (UStravelbanhelp@dal.ca) to offer support and information for those at Dal affected by the executive order.

Dal’s leadership is also working with Universities Canada and colleagues at other institutions on ways to support students, faculty, staff and researchers from those countries caught in the executive order’s sudden implementation.

“Dalhousie welcomes students, faculty and staff from around the world, including those seeking refuge from violence and hardship,” said President Florizone and Provost Watters in the memo. “They strengthen all of our universities and our country by bringing new knowledge, talent and skills. We stand for diversity and inclusion.”

President Florizone also shared and expressed his support for the Universities Canada statement on Twitter Sunday evening.

“This executive order poses a direct challenge to the free flow of ideas and to the values of diversity, inclusion and openness that are central to democracy,” said Dr. Florizone.

Full text of the memo:

Memo to the Dalhousie community

Dalhousie University, alongside universities across Canada, is deeply concerned with the executive order issued in the United States that prevents individuals from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the U.S. for 90 days.

The impacts of this executive order on universities vary, affecting students, faculty and staff, and researchers directly as well as research partnerships, international studies, academic conference participation, field visits and, in some cases, family relationships of students, faculty and staff.

Together with Universities Canada, we support the call from the American Association of Universities for this ban to end as quickly as possible. We are also working closely with Universities Canada and other Canadian universities on ways we can support students, faculty, staff and researchers from these countries who have been caught up in the sudden implementation of the executive order. At Dalhousie, we are currently putting in place specific plans on how we can help accommodate these individuals.

We also know there are members of our university community who may be affected by these new travel restrictions and the impacts vary from individual to individual. We are here to help. We have set up a help line (902-494-1566) and email (UStravelbanhelp@dal.ca) to offer support and information for students, staff, faculty and researchers. Please contact us if you have any concerns.

Dalhousie welcomes students, faculty and staff from around the world, including those seeking refuge from violence and hardship. They strengthen all of our universities and our country by bringing new knowledge, talent and skills. We stand for diversity and inclusion. Please feel free to contact the Provost’s Office directly with any further concerns and suggestions.

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